William M. Cockrum, a UCLA Anderson School of Management adjunct professor and member of the school's board of visitors, has donated $5 million to establish an endowment to support the school and the Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.
Of the gift, $4 million will support fellowships for entrepreneurial M.B.A. students, while the remaining $1 million will help fund fellowships for finance students in the M.B.A. program.
"This gift is reflective of Bill's longstanding devotion to our school," said Judy Olian, dean of UCLA Anderson. "He has taught generations of students who remain grateful to him for his keen industry insights and dedication as an educator. This most generous gift continues Bill's commitment to Anderson's future and to our students and alumni."
Cockrum has taught at UCLA Anderson for 30 years, providing instruction to more than 7,000 students. He currently teaches courses in entrepreneurial finance, investment management, leadership and business ethics. During his teaching career, he has won numerous academic teaching awards, both at UCLA and abroad, including recognition as the top U.S. entrepreneurial professor in a 1996 survey conducted by Businessweek.
"It gives me great satisfaction to know that I am playing a vital role in supporting UCLA Anderson," Cockrum said.
Prior to joining UCLA Anderson, Cockrum spent 25 years in the financial services industry, starting as a marketer and rising to chief financial officer and chief accounting officer at Becker Paribas Inc., a 3,000-employee investment banking firm. When the company was sold to Merrill Lynch in 1984, Cockrum shifted gears and began consulting, eventually serving as a consultant to more than 40 chief executive officers. He still consults across various industries on issues such as organization structure, strategy, marketing, finance and administration.
"Bill is not only one of our most seasoned faculty members, he's also a leading investment advisor whose wisdom and guidance is highly respected in the industry," said Al Osborne, senior associate dean at UCLA Anderson. "He has mentored generations of entrepreneurs and finance professionals and with this generous gift will impact many more to come."
In addition to serving on UCLA Anderson's board of visitors, Cockrum is a member of the school's alumni board and the Price Center's advisory board. He also served on The UCLA Foundation's investment committee for 15 years and is currently on the foundation's board of governors.
Cockrum is also is also an advisory board member for the Graduate School of Management at Cranfield University in England, where he is a visiting professor, and serves on the board of the Betteny Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies at Cranfield. He is a director at Educational Housing Services, a not-for-profit organization providing 4,200 dormitory residences to 22 universities in New York City.
Cockrum earned his B.A. in economics from DePauw University and his M.B.A. in finance and marketing from Harvard University's business school.
The UCLA Anderson School of Management is among the leading business schools in the world, with faculty members globally renowned for their teaching excellence and their research in advancing management thinking. Located in Los Angeles, gateway to the growing economies of Latin America and Asia and a city that personifies innovation in a diverse range of endeavors, UCLA Anderson's M.B.A., fully employed M.B.A., executive M.B.A., global executive M.B.A. for Asia Pacific, global executive M.B.A. for the Americas, master of financial engineering, doctoral and executive education programs embody the school's 'Think In The Next' ethos. Annually, some 1,800 students are trained to be global leaders seeking the business models and community solutions of tomorrow. Follow UCLA Anderson on Twitter at or on Facebook.